The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 1

Single Copy 1CC ORGANIC FARM AT HENNING Tuesday, July 4, 1972 Herd iihvimspn land hnology untouched by tec mm utUAua Second of a series BY RICHARD GIBSON Minneapolis Star Staff Writer HENNING, Minn. The dispute over pesticides rages on, but Melvin Cordes quietly reaps lush fields untouched by any man-made dusts or sprays. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns cattlemen against injecting such substances as diethyl-stilbestrol in their cows to fatten them. And a prize herd of purebred Angus matures into succulent beef on the Cordes spread without stimulants or booster shots.

Ecologists preach that the earth is, Indeed, in a delicate balance. But caretaker Cordes does as he always has and lets his bit of planet sustain and yield and renew itself by the natural cycle he believes was intended by God. Mel Cordes is what people now call an organic farmer. That means, in the purest sense, that he uses no unnatural compounds to push his soil or livestock into an accelerated productivity. And as he tills and tends his 1,100 acres of cropland and pasture just east of Henning In Otter Tail County, Cordes believes that, at last, the times have vindicated his old-fashioned ways.

"They thought I was an oddball 'Golden bring two, three, four times what commercially fertilized and fortified foods bring." Cordes' mainstay is his Angus herd which, at about 400 head, makes it, he believes, the largest organic herd in the state. It feeds only on the grain and hay grown on Cordes' farms (he owns two and rents another). Because the animals aren't injected with growth hormones or weight inducers, they take at least six more months to reach butchering stage than do cattle raised on technology. It means an additional $60 to $75 cost per head for Cordes, who charges $1.17 a pound for a cut-up, wrapped carcass of choice meat. Cordes, who advertises in health-oriented magazines, ships beef around the country.

His customers include several restaurants. Other animals are sold for breeding. He also markets some of his wheat, clover (for tea) and honey. How did it all begin for him? "As a boy I helped Mom in the garden," Cordes recalls. The wind plays with the whisps and curls of his whitening hair.

"I had a couple of rows on the outside, and I noticed RURAL Turn to Page 2 A I arii tier MInneapolli Star Photo by Roger Nyitrom natural means supports his point. "Soil is a living thing. It should be treated that way," says Cordes. Details, other photos Page 1C. "A iLinJ Melvin Cordes, a Henning, living Uling farmer, prefers pray, er to pesticides, and the success of years of farming by A into school-bus sunset By ZEKE WIGGLESWORTH 7" Minneapolii Star Staff Writer 4 1 says Minnesota officials believe is easier to see than glossy yellow, they can do about it.

outvoted," he said. "And since the Department Transportation is in charge of funds to highways and they say glossy yellow, will be." department could, if Minnesota fails to color, withhold up to 10 percent of allocated highway funds until the change is I ft I The orange school bus, a traditional sight on Minnesota highways and streets since the 1930s, is soon to fade away. It will be replaced by buses painted "glossy yellow," which the federal Department of Transportation feels titillates drivers better than Minnesota's "golden orange" color. The order to change colors was contained In a new set of government standards for school buses, which governs such things as capacities, safety rules, pupil training and bus routing. Minnesota and South Carolina were the only states using golden orange paint, and South Carolina recently International Belfast The British Army kept militant Protestants from barricading a Protestant stronghold lst night, but agreed to set up their own checkpoints around the area.

The Protestant Ulster Defense Association said a British agreement to search everyone entering the area was a victory. Details: Section. Seoul South Korea and North Korea announced that they have agreed to refrain from armed provocations and from defaming each other and are about to start work on unifying the peninsula. Details: Page 4A. Southeast Asia Phnom Penh President Lon Nol freed 161 political prisoners today and presided over the return to Cambodia of the remains of Achari-ya Mahem Chiev, a national hero who died in a French island prison 29 years ago.

A prison official said most of the prisoners had been jailed for collaborating with the enemy. 1 City and state Augsburg College, which will start its 104th year in September, ir plans to build a $2-million apartment residence hall foe its students and those at other private institutions in the West Bank area. Details: Page 7C "Busing is better," according to propaganda put out by the Metropolitan Transit Commission. A survey, however, shows only one MTC member rides the bus to work regularly. Details: Page IB.

County boards of equalization may be in for a busy time at coming meetings. Many property owners whose tax-assessment objections have been rejected by local boards are filing appeals with the county boards. The Hennepin County board may get hundreds of appeals from Minneapolis taxpayers. Details: Page IB. Most Twin Cities-area workers embrace the idea of a four-day work week, The Star's Metro-Poll shows.

Half of the people surveyed and two out of three workers liked the idea of working four long days instead of five eight-hour days. Details: Page 2C. Index has been no timetable set on said. "So we can do it gradually. new buses, we can just order them HENNING Hi Will 1.1 for many years," Cordes said.

"But now there's a few of them who believe there's something to it. Especially the kids." The state's agriculture department agrees. It reports that, particularly around college towns, students and graduates who farm are increasingly practicing organic methods. The precise number of such farmers in Minnesota is unknown. "It's still faddish," one department official said.

"But there's a definite market for their products. Sometimes organic commodities can orange 9 Quang Tri miles of the city, and marine officers said their men could be in Quang Tri tomorrow if ordered to go. However, there were signs of stiffening North Vietnamese resistance around the town. Spokesmen in Saigon said 93 North Vietnamese were killed in the fighting today, 59 during clashes VIETNAM Turn to Page 2A After negative reaction from Arden Hills officials, the company had withdrawn a previous application for a permit at another location. Originally, Midwestern had proposed to build the tower in Shore-view at 845 Gramsie adjacent to the site of the tower that collapsed.

But Shoreview councilmen opposed it because they objected to the proliferation of towers in the village. The Shoreview Planning Commission had recommended approval. Comte said the link between Minneapolis and Duluth was scheduled to be activated July 1. The tower, if approved, would take about a week to build. The Shoreview and Arden Hills area is considered a prime site for antennas because of its high elevation.

1 Xi Although Pavek golden orange there's not much "We were of Minnesota for glossy yellow it He said the change the bus federal made. "So far, there this," Pavek As we order glossy yellow He said there The golden early 1930s when state highway the most visible The highway with golden Transportation has vehicles instead of golden orange. are about 7,000 school buses in Minnesota. orange color was adopted in the the education department and the department conducted joint tests on color for their vehicles. department has no plans to do away orange, and as yet, the Department of said nothing about state maintenance having to be glossy yellow.

adopted the new federal yellow. Changing over in Minnesota involves a little trouble. Gerald Pavek, director of pupil transportation for the State Board of Education, said state law makes golden orange the mandatory color for school buses. "That means that the Legislature has to change the color. Also, it is part of the regulations of the state board, which also will have to be changed," Pavek said.

National Washington Backers of Sen. George McGovern and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley arc trying Wday to convince a U.S. Court of Appeals that it should overturn two Democratic Party decisions about dele gates to the presidential convention. Details: Section. Los Angeles A U.S.

District Court judge yesterday denied a request to dismiss espionage, conspiracy and theft charges against Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo in the Pentagon papers case. The trial may begin Monday. Details: Section. Dallas The Lutheran Church of America, saying Jesus was considered a "political-religious criminal," is prepared to accept ex-convicts into the ministry. The nation's largest Lutheran denomination also urged an end to imprisonment of most lawbreakers.

Details: Page 6C. Weather History can be a bit chilling 'Vv Early risers this 'motining were air-conditioned by the coldest July day in recorded Twin Cities weather history. At 5:25 a.m. the temperature got down to 43 degrees. The previous coldest day in 'the month was in 1891 when it dipped to 44 July 7.

The previous coldest July 4. in his- tory was in 1949 when it was 49. The clear, crisp and cold weather wasn't confined to the Twin Citfesi Low temperatures prevailed Upper Midwest cities, some down In the 30-degree range. Vl-i, Some of the colder temperatures reported included: Two Harbors .87 Hibbing Bismarck, N.D. Grand Forks, N-D.

87 Duluth DnohastBr 43 South Viets drive to Amusements Section South Vietnam Books and the Arts Section South Vietnamese paratroopers Business News Section fought to the southwestern edge of Comics 6.7C Quang Tri City today, military Day's Records SA sources said; rr 1 EditorialOpinion several hundred troops with U.S. Flanagan column It advisers made the attack. Atnight- Wobuenar column P81B fall, the South Vietnamese were re-Morrison column Section ported occupying positions about half a mile from the center of the i Kaaio provincial capital, which the North i hi" pagC BnSeCt? Vietnamese captured May 1. Variety Pages 1-5C Government spokesmen in Sai- Chess match in doubt again REYKJAVIK, Iceland MB Hours after Bobby Fischer ended his holdout and gave the world chess championship new life, Russian Boris Spassky put the match in doubt again. Spassky lodged a formal protest today objecting that Fischer, the American challenger, "has violated the rules of the match" by failing to appear for its scheduled start Sunday.

The world champion told Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation, that his decision to allow Fischer a postponement was unacceptable. Then Spassky and his aides staged a glum-faced walkout. "Spassky is of the opinion that Fischer insulted him personally and the Chess Federation of the U.S.S.R. by failing to appear at the ceremony opening the match of July 1, Tass, the official Soviet news agency, said. Fischer's holdout ended after he accepted London banker James D.

Slater's offer to match the $125,000 purse put up by the Icelandic Chess Federation. Now the winner of the 24-game match will get $156,250 and the loser $93,750. Collapse shadows 'missing-link' tower I I gon claimed the recapture of two district headquarters, Mai Linh, 1.2 miles southeast of Quang Tri, and Hai Lang, 6 miles southeast of the capital. It was the first time the South Vietnamese have recaptured any of the 14 district towns lost to the North Vietnamese in their 3-month-old offensive. The marines on the eastern flank of the Saigon drive to recapture Quang Tri were reported within 4 The Arden Hills Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the application be denied, saying that the tower would constitute "visual pollution" and that the site did not provide a large enough safety zone.

Further, the commission said, it believed towers should be together in an antenna farm, and that it would be "poor planning" to scatter towers over the area. Comte and company lawyer Fred Memmer say the planning commission hearing, with a heckling audience did not provide a good forum for "technical discussion" of the proposal. Comte said company and village officials will meet before the next Council meeting to discuss the technical aspects of the proposal to build the free-standing tower, which resembles the Eiffel Tower in design. By MARTHA ROSE Almost everyone involved agrees Minneapolis star staff Writer. that the reason for much of there- sistahce the tower is the collapse George Comte is seeking a "miss- of a tower in Shorevlew ing which is delaying the use last September, which killed seven of millions of dollars worth of build- workmen, ings and electronic equipment.

"We have been associated and Com president of Midwest- reassoclated with the tower col- ern Relay Milwaukee, has even th the company beer seek ng permission to noth to cm Mm! Arden Hills Village Coun- Sh c. hM tabled nl July 10 for more than eight months. 'pnpoatA t0 build the Jcto. The 250-foot tower is the only one ThZh iVKSi or ui rui on the south side of County Rd. of a 36-towcr chain to connect Chi- Hamlne cngo, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Duluth that the company hasn't been able to obtain permission to build.

special-use permit is required because of the height of the micro-The microwave system, which wave tower, would compete with the Bell Telephone would carry network tel- The nearest home is about one-cvision signuls from city to city. half mile away. International Falls 4I It will be cold again tomorrow, but only down to a predicted low of 48 overnight and a high tomorrow of 72. Heartening, however, besides the fair skies and bright sunshine predicted for tomorrow, is the complete absence of any mention of snow. There Is a near-zero chance of any precipitation through tomorrow.

MINNEAPOLIS TEMPERATURES Midnight ...82 6 a.m 44 1 a.m 81 7 a.m 2 a.m 80 8 3t.m 47 60 4 a.m 10 a.m. 82 5 a.m 7 TOMORROW: Fair 1 4 Sections xciv No. 190 STAR TELEPHONES News, General 372-4141 Want Ads 372-4242 Circulation 172-4344 v-.